Kalamazoo outfielder wins Home Run Derby at 25th Northwoods League All-Star Game

KALAMAZOO — His home park has 'Homer' in the name, so it made sense that the Kalamazoo Growlers’ Zach Daniels would defend his turf by winning the Home Run Derby for the Northwoods League All-Star Game.

Feeling comfortable at home plate in his home stadium of Homer Stryker Field, Daniels ended up as the star of stars by hitting the most home runs in the Home Run Derby, the featured event during pregame festivities for the All-Star Game on Tuesday during the 25th season of the Northwoods League in Kalamazoo.

Daniels, an outfielder from the University of Tennessee, had three home runs, which was enough to lead the South Division to the team championship as well, with the South beating the North, 8-5.

“It was exciting just to be here really, to be invited to the All-Star Game, with all these great players. But to win, made it even more exciting,” Daniels said. “In this kind of thing, you have to pull the ball more, which is not something I usually don't do in a game. But I was working on it a little before the Derby today and it seemed to work.”

Kalamazoo’s Jonathan Foster also hit a home run for the South. The other Growlers player in the event was Niko Kavadas, who failed to clear the fence. There were no Battle Creek Bombers in the Home Run Derby.

Winning the event in front of his home crowd at Homer Stryker Field was an extra bonus.

“It was very exciting,” Daniels said. “To do it in front of the home crowd was really cool.”

Kalamazoo's Niko Kavadas watches one fly during the Home Run Derby for the 25th Northwoods League All-Star Game.(Photo: Bill Broderick/Battle Creek Enquirer)

Stars come to Kalamazoo

For Growlers general manager/managing partner Brian Colopy, it has been an honor to host the All-Star Game for the anniversary 25th season for the Northwoods League.

With two days worth of events, including a comedy show on Monday, league meetings, plus the festivities surrounding the All-Star Game on Tuesday, it was a lot of work for Colopy and his staff.

"This is a major event, especially being in the 25th year of Northwoods League baseball," said Colopy, who added that Battle Creek teamed up with the Growlers to host. "We prepared for over two years, adding amenities to the ballpark in anticipation of this game and I am excited that our communities (Battle Creek and Kalamazoo) are able to experience this first hand. We are also excited to welcome fans from all over the country to our communities to experience what are games are all about."

Battle Creek pitches in

After the stars hit their home runs, some local Kalamazoo area baseball players were able to join the fun with the Kids Home Run Challenge – with Battle Creek Bombers general manager Tyler Shore serving as MC of the event in center field, and Bombers first baseman Zach Gartner serving as one of the players throwing to the young players.

Eight local youth baseball organizations players participated in the event with Connor Cole winning, along with Gartner as his pitcher.

First Pitch

Terry Collins, former manager of the New York Mets, threw out the first pitch for the All-Star Game.

Collins, from Midland, Michigan, once was the manager for the Duluth Huskies of the Northwoods League. In 1994, he made his MLB managerial debut with the Houston Astros. He also managed the Anaheim Angels.